Rule of thirds
- Thread starter flyingwil
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Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
Colorado David
Explorer
Divide your field of view by thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Now try to place the subject emphasis at the intersection of two of those lines. Avoid bullseye compositions. For example, if you're shooting a landscape scenic, try to position the horizon either on the upper or lower third line rather than in the center. If you're photographing a person or vehicle, position them on one of the vertical thirds, either left or right side of the frame, giving them looking room. If a person is looking to their right, you would place them on the right side of the frame so that to the viewer they would be looking into the composition rather than out of it. With a composition of a person, unless you had a compelling reason, you would place their head at the intersection of the upper thirds to preserve a natural head-room. You want to use your composition to draw the viewer into the photo rather than out of it. So action should lead the eye in rather than out. A vehicle driving or a person walking from the left of the frame to the right would be positioned on the left to preserve action room in front of them.
articulate
Expedition Leader
This should be fun.
The gist of the rule is "don't put your subject in the middle of the frame."
The gist of the rule is "don't put your subject in the middle of the frame."
tdesanto
Expedition Leader
Wil,
These are great posts. The Wiki article that Scott posted is good and Colorado David's description is perfect. The point of all this is to compose an image such that the viewer's eyes are drawn into the photo and allowed to "walk around" in it. You don't want to anchor their eyes in the center. Colorado David also speaks about tension in the photo, as he pointed out that you wouldn't place someone looking to the right in the lower right corner. It would feel more natural to have them looking to the left from the right hand side or vice versa, so that the subject is looking into the frame. Now this is just a guide, and I've seen several fine examples where people break the rule.
Now, the camera you're using has a grid feature built-in. Make sure it's still turned on, and use it to help you during composition.
Without meaning to sound patronizing, I was so proud to see you post this question. :sombrero:
These are great posts. The Wiki article that Scott posted is good and Colorado David's description is perfect. The point of all this is to compose an image such that the viewer's eyes are drawn into the photo and allowed to "walk around" in it. You don't want to anchor their eyes in the center. Colorado David also speaks about tension in the photo, as he pointed out that you wouldn't place someone looking to the right in the lower right corner. It would feel more natural to have them looking to the left from the right hand side or vice versa, so that the subject is looking into the frame. Now this is just a guide, and I've seen several fine examples where people break the rule.
Now, the camera you're using has a grid feature built-in. Make sure it's still turned on, and use it to help you during composition.
Without meaning to sound patronizing, I was so proud to see you post this question. :sombrero:
Last edited:
Michael Slade
Untitled
This is a rule that is meant to be broken...once learned, understood *and* mastered.
Martyn
Supporting Sponsor, Overland Certified OC0018
I think I only got as far as "This is a rule that is meant to be broken.."
Michael Slade
Untitled
flyingwil
Supporting Sponsor - Sierra Expeditions
I think I grasp the general concept, and it seems that there are several different interpretations of this theory depending on the subject matter that is being shot, that is where I get confused.
Noticed that...
Here is samples of playing around using it (feel free to critique), I noticed the grid places the subject almost a bit too center? OR is it just user error?
sinuhexavier
Explorer
There are few rules of thirds to be talked about...
Composition
Depth (foreground, middle ground, background)
Color Balance
But one must understand the Golden Ratio to use any of those with any skill...
Composition
Depth (foreground, middle ground, background)
Color Balance
But one must understand the Golden Ratio to use any of those with any skill...
Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
Don't want to hijack here, but Sinuhexavier I'm glad you brought up ratios, wonder if you would comment on the new practice (due to "widescreen" movies) of the 16:9 ratios showing up in pictures now. There is so much historical and inherent motive to use a height-width ratio between a 1.33 and ~1.6 (φ
in art, what is the take on the rule of thirds in the "new" and often arbitrary "widescreen" photographs and video?
in art, what is the take on the rule of thirds in the "new" and often arbitrary "widescreen" photographs and video?
sinuhexavier
Explorer
I think that the photography you see using 16:9 is a novelty at best. It has it's applications for landscapes and such, but for photographic story telling, the format loses its impact and visual appeal.
In regards to live action using 16:9, it is used for a different purpose than telling a story in a single frame. 16:9 works because the film maker is combining movement with composition to tell the story as opposed to the photographer who relies most heavily on composition.
That's my take on it anyway...
In regards to live action using 16:9, it is used for a different purpose than telling a story in a single frame. 16:9 works because the film maker is combining movement with composition to tell the story as opposed to the photographer who relies most heavily on composition.
That's my take on it anyway...
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